Elisha beiggs



E BRIGGS, Sr.

4 WATER WHEEL. No. 66,456. Pat-nted July 9, 1867.

Inventor. I

gems tetra iQa-tmt, @ffit'r IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WHEELS.

GU12 fitlgthizlt nfsmt ta infirm fitters hated mu mating part at it: nine.-

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

- Be it known that I, ELISHA BRIGGS, Sr., of the town and county of Fayette, in the State of- Iowa, have invented a new improvement in Current Water- Wheels; and I do declare thatthe following is an accurate description thereof, reference being had to theaccompariying drawings,andthe letters of reference method thereon, being made a part of this specification;

' The nature of my invention consists in using-thefloats A A A, &c., with the valves a a a, &c., attached in the manner shown to the endless apron B B, (which is of the common construction,)iall attached to the raft or frame 0 C, &c., by the hitching-bars FF. By means of the raft G, 350., I am enabled to float the endless apron B B, carrying with it the floats A A A, 850., which contain the valves a a a, &c. By placing the raft with its attachments in the stream of water, the currentaots upon the valves a a a, 860., in the floats A A A, &c., which, running the same way with the current, are carried around with the endless apron B B, ready to enter the water again as atL. The floats moving in this manner, communicate motion to the pulleys E E, &c.,,

connected with main driving-shaft by means of chains K K. D D are wings that may be set at any angle for the purpose of throwing an additional current ofl water into the'floats A A A-&c'., and valves (1 a a, die. H H are braces designed to'pre'vent the pressure of the water from dislodging the floats AA A, &c., from their proper position in relation to the apron. M M- are simply flanges to hold the apron B B in its place as it revolves. O O

are bracesextending from the ends of the shafts upon which are placed the pulleys E E, 860., to the frame to hold thcse'shafts in their places. When I wish to communicate the power from the pulleys E E tot-he main driving shaft, I throw the hitching-bars back to the rear ends of the slots I I by loosening the chains T T, which are attached to a winch placed and operated as hereinafter described. By. this means I tighten the chains K K, and so communicate the power. When it is desirable to stop .the motion of the main shaft, I throw the hitchingbars forward in the slots II, by tightening the chains T T, which are attached to a winch placed andfoperat-ed as hereinafter described, which loosens-the chains and accomplishes the purpose. The hitching-harsh Fare connected with the frameC O by the bolts N N, which play in the slots II. At the points P P attach chains S S that are carried to the main beam, which chains holdthe whole apparatus to its place in the stream. At R R I attach other smaller chains T T, the other ends of which are'fastened to' a winch placed upon the main beam for the purpose of throwing the hitching-bars F F forward or backeas may-be necessary. By

turning the winch backwards,'I loosen the chains T T, which allows the current of water to carry the endless apron B B, with its attachments, down the stream, until the chains K K are tightened around the pulleys E E, when the desired motion is communicated. By turning the winch the other way, I tighten the chains T T, and draw up the endlesschain B B, which loosens the chains K K. relieves the friction upon the pulleys E E, and stops the communication of motion. I

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-'- The arrangement and combination of the floats A A A, &c., with the valves h a a, &c., upon the endless apron B B, carrying the pulleys E E and the chains K K with the braces H H, the wings D D, the hitchingbars F ll, the bolts N N, and the slots I I, and the whole attached and floated upon the frame or raft C 0,1111 substantially as and for the purposes described. I

ELISHA BRIGGS, SR.

Witnesses:

J. 1). RICE, E. Barnes, Jr. 

